The Best Art Supplies For Toddlers

Hey there, wonderful parents and caregivers! If you’ve ever found joy in the simple magic of a toddler’s first scribble or finger-painted masterpiece, you’re in good company. I’m excited to share some tried-and-true art supplies for toddlers that have brought endless smiles to both my in-home childcare and my own little ones.

Let’s keep it real and practical as we explore the essentials for introducing your toddlers (aged 1-3) to the world of art. From mess-friendly options to tools that spark their budding creativity, join me in making art time an amazing and exciting experience for both you and your tiny artists. So, grab a cup of coffee, take a seat, and let’s dive into the world of toddler-friendly art supplies together!

Do A Dot Markers

Also known as dab a dot or bingo dobbers, these vibrant markers with rounded tips make art time a little extra. Whether your little is creating a pattern of bold dots or scribbling and quickly coloring in their paper, these markers are very captivating.

Miscellaneous Jar of supplies

Sometimes we plan a little too much, more than our little ones need us to. Try this sometime, set out an array of random art supplies or niknaks in front of your child and see what they come up with. Don’t forget the glue!

Not ready to hand over a bottle of glue just yet? Give them a q-tip with a little glue on a lid and let them at it!

Washable Paint

Paint is the art supply for toddlers.

Toddlers are known for their exploratory behavior, including putting objects in their mouths. Washable paints are non-toxic and safe, giving caregivers peace of mind if toddlers accidentally ingest small amounts.

Washable paints allow toddlers to freely experiment with colors and textures without the fear of permanent stains.

Spill Free Paint Cups

Spill free paint cups with matching brush colors are a great addition to your paint table or easel. This is a great way to help contain the spill, but also add in some extra color recognition.

Fun painting tools

Step it up a notch by introducing some new painting tools to your kiddo. Think texture and size. Sponges and rollers. If you want to try an opened ended project with more engagement, set out random tools and let your children explore.

Skin Safe Liquid Coloring

If you’re anything like me, every time you see a project that says “add food coloring” you are quick to find something else. I feel like it’s a 50/50 if you or your littles are going to end up colored as well.

I found this liquid food grade skin safe soap coloring and it has been a game changer for our gooey experiments or science pouring stations.

Lazy Susan Style Art Caddy

One day while at a children’s museum I spotted one of these in their art area. Genius! Theirs housed markers, glue bottles, and lots and lots of sequence…that was a little wild, even for me. I’m here for the mess but all that sequence is a little extra.

Here we fill ours with markers, pencils, and gel pens.

The fact that it spins is not only helpful for sharing, but also a fun game when the kids give it a little spin and when it stops they use something from the container in front of them.

Little minds at work.

Sheets Of White Paper

While computer paper works great for any project, you really will have the best luck with a good thick art paper. This type of paper holds up much better with paint or glue and is much less likely to tear.

Construction Paper

Construction Paper is a must have item for cutting, tearing, gluing, and coloring. This paper makes a great boarder for displaying your child’s art or a wonderful canvas.

Large roll of paper

You can never go wrong with having lots and lots of paper! This is a great way to always have some available as well as keeping your space tidy.

It is a versatile resource that can be used for a wide range of activities, from creating banners and posters to free drawing collaboratively or cut down for individual projects, making it a valuable investment for both educational and recreational purposes.

Roll of kraft paper

Kraft paper is a great workstation cover. Tape a large piece down before starting your project for a super quick and easy clean up.

Stamps and Stamp pads

You can’t go wrong with Mellissa and Doug items. We love their stamp and stamp pad sets, they provide a simple and easy way for toddlers to create repetitive patterns and shapes so not only are they making fun art projects, they’re also aiding in learning activities.

Water Brush Pens

Have you tried water brush pens? This is such a cool idea. Usually I use these for my older kids but they are great for littles that don’t quite understand the whole watercolor process. Also setting a cup of water in front of a one-year-old can result in big water spills or more likely, an attempt to drink the water.

Stickers

I love the fine motor aspect to stickers, the day your child figures out how to take the sticker off the sheet or the paper back off the big foam sticker is so exciting and down right liberating. Watch them as they stick, and rip, stick, and rip. Pretty soon they have a sticker tower about 8 inches tall then one day out of the blue they’re making a scene and you’ll wonder when that growth happened.

Stickers come in so many sizes, colors, shapes, characters, textures. This is such an amazing art supply to keep on hand for fun and educational purposes.

Scissors with decorative edge

Make sure you are supervising closely.

I love allowing my older toddlers to experiment with textured scissors. They will simply snip snip snip around the outside of a sheet of colored paper but they LOVE it!

Paper Punches

Paper punches are another great item for your older toddlers. They don’t always get it right away but when they do, it’s magic!! Some punches are more difficult than others so be sure to test out your punches before handing them out.

This activity not only encourages fine motor skills but also promotes hand-eye coordination as they aim the punch and position it on the paper.

After punching out shapes or letters, give your child a glue stick and a fresh sheet of paper to glue all their work to make an amazing work of art.

Crayons

Crayons are about the best art supply for toddlers, or any child for that matter, that you can have on hand. Using crayons helps toddlers develop crucial fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they grasp and manipulate the crayons. The vibrant colors of crayons stimulate visual senses, aiding in cognitive development. Crayons are non-toxic and safe for toddlers, making them suitable for young children who may explore objects orally.

There are so many different options from your standard crayon to large or triangle. Pick what is best for the children in your care.

Markers

Next time you put out some random art supplies, watch what the kids go for. I can almost guarantee it will be the markers. Keep a close eye on your kiddos though, these draw on bodies just as well as paper.

Chalk

I feel like chalk is such a forgotten art supply. We use it all the time outside, but how often to do add it to your inside table art? Consider handing your child a sheet of black paper and some chalk. Maybe add in a stencil and see what they come up with.

Tips For Picking Out Supplies and Art time:

• Don’t get the cheap stuff. I know it can look more appealing to grab the off-brand supplies, but some of them (crayons in particular) really don’t work that well. If you have an off-brand supply you love let me know!
• If you want full coverage for your toddler, rather than using a bib or apron try cutting an old t-shirt up the sides and under the armpit. We use these as bib shirts/paint shirts for art and lunch and they work ah-maze-ing!
• Keep clean up supplies close by. I like having a washcloth or pack of wet wipes nearby. Some kiddos love being messy, some want to be cleaned up right away. Random spills may happen as well. Cut your own stress down by cleaning a little as they create.
• Try not to have a lot of directions for your art time. It’s fun to plan activities, but it’s so rewarding to watch what the kiddos come up with.
• Make sure you pick out age-appropriate items.

No matter what you choose to get for your children just remember it’s the creative process that is the most important. You don’t need fancy art kits with a bunch of directions to have a beautiful work of art. Enjoy watching their creations come to life with the supplies you give them.

I would love to know what your favorite art supplies are!!